Chapter 130
Chapter 130
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 130
Tower 10th Floor. Primgard.
[Garden of Spring], impressive with its blooming flowers and splendid view overlooking the city center.
Now a famous attraction of Primgard, this place was bustling with many climbers.
Now that spring had come to a land that had only known ice and blizzards, the Garden of Spring had become the most symbolic place on the 10th floor.
A group of climbers with a rather rare combination visited that Garden of Spring.
"Wow, it's beautiful."
"Heh heh, I never thought I'd finally get to come here."
Blacksmith Paulo, siblings Evan and Colin, and the lame-legged mage Mustafa Jamal.
These were the four team members who had taken the survival test on the 3rd floor together with Seo-jin in the past.
They had visited the Garden of Spring together following the message that Seo-jin had left behind.
Of course, they didn't expect to meet him directly at this point.
He had already become too famous, and before they knew it, he had surpassed the 20th floor and was heading to even higher places.
They had no intention of holding back his progress.
Still, the reason they had gathered here was to reminisce about their memories, wondering if their choices had helped Nova's journey even a little, and to reunite with their former teammates to catch up.
While they were all gathered with joyful hearts, looking around the Garden of Spring, some irritating conversations reached their ears.
"This must be the Garden of Spring. I heard Nova ended winter on this floor?"
"Hey, didn't you see the article this time? About Nova causing a ruckus on the 20th floor."
"A ruckus?"
"Yeah, a lot of people died. I bet he passed through here the same way. He doesn't care about others' suffering, as long as he builds his own achievements."
A couple exchanging harsh words about Nova based on the rumors that had spread.
Perhaps due to the articles spreading lately, public opinion about Nova had rapidly changed.
Originally, the more famous someone becomes, the stronger the backlash when flaws are discovered.
Nova had been riding the highest wave for the past few months, but due to the articles that had recently mushroomed everywhere, public opinion had reversed, and his anti-fans had greatly increased.
However.
'He's not that kind of person.'
Colin clenched her fist tightly.
Nova wasn't someone who would commit such evil acts.
He was a benefactor who had led and protected the four of them who couldn't form a team until the end, and even defeated an evil black mage to save their lives.
She couldn't tolerate people who knew nothing badmouthing such a person.
The moment Colin got emotional and tried to go confront the two people.
Tap-.
"Little one, step back. If you go there and get heated up, you'll only tire yourself out."
Old Paulo grabbed Colin's shoulder and stopped her.
'They don't really know what they're talking about anyway.'
They were just chewing over something they'd picked up somewhere as temporary gossip.
Even if she went to argue, they would just mock the person getting heated and leave with a sneer.
"...I understand."
Paulo and his teammates, having suppressed their anger and passed by the couple, arrived at a certain spot.
"This is the place."
Jamal, who had been limping ahead, stopped in front of a flower bed at the coordinates written in his notebook.
Evan summoned an earth spirit gnome to search around the flower bed.
Clatter-.
The gnome that had been digging around soon found a box and handed it to Evan.
When they opened the box, there was a small pouch inside.
"What's this?"
Several artifacts came out when they opened the pouch.
[Fairy Knight's Talisman].
[Moon Spirit Bow].
[Talis's Hammer].
[Rosaria's Feather].
Each was an A-grade artifact suitable for Evan, Colin, Paulo, and Jamal respectively.
And at the same time, Seo-jin's voice flowed out from the pouch.
[You've worked hard to come this far. I've prepared a small gift, so continue to strive forward.]
It was the minimum repayment that Seo-jin had left for those who had kept their loyalty.
These artifacts were excellent to use now, but they would show their true worth when these people reached the 12th floor in the future.
They were things that Seo-jin had specially requested from great beings.
"Wow..."
Colin admired the bow as she plucked the bowstring, and Paulo's eyes also sparkled at the feel of the hammer that fit perfectly in his hand.
Evan also recognized the spirit energy contained in the talisman and broke into a broad smile, while Jamal also trembled as he sensed that the magic power contained in the feather was extraordinary.
While the four were moved by Seo-jin's gift.
Step-.
A man approached from behind them and carefully spoke up.
"Excuse me. Could we have a brief conversation?"
"Wh-who are you?"
Evan turned around in surprise.
He was a man with calm black hair but somehow gave off a frivolous impression.
Streamer Min-ho.
He had gained many subscribers after his encounter with Seo-jin on the 4th floor, and had been on a rising trend ever since.
After that, he had gained popularity with content analyzing his activities and actually visiting places where his footsteps had touched, quickly gathering nearly a million subscribers.
However, now that public opinion about Nova had worsened, he too was experiencing a major decline.
Of course... he could have avoided the decline if he had switched sides like other wreckers and uploaded videos cursing Nova.
'But that wouldn't be right in good conscience.'
He had reversed his life thanks to Nova, and had been able to experience things that would be difficult to experience in a lifetime.
Due to the rapidly worsening like ratio and comment reactions, he had declared a temporary suspension of activities and had been in hiding.
Min-ho said.
"I'm not trying to film a video or any kind of content. I just wanted to have a conversation."
"A conversation, you say?"
Jamal adjusted his glasses and tilted his head.
Min-ho slowly nodded.
"Yes, a conversation."
Min-ho had been following Nova's tracks and had found those who had taken the test with him on the 3rd floor.
People who had met Nova before him.
Moreover, people who hadn't used that to gain fame but had quietly kept it secret for his climbing and future progress.
What they had been thinking when they kept the secret about Nova back then, and what they planned to do going forward.
Min-ho wanted to find answers through their stories.
***
Six months later.
The Kingdom of Hoagin on the 29th floor of the Tower.
"How is it, Baduki? It's your friend."
Growl-.
Baduki wagged his tail happily as he looked up at the giant dragon that had only its skeleton remaining.
It was thanks to having a friend he could play with even while wearing the Behemoth suit.
Seo-jin also smiled as he looked at the bone dragon made from the skeleton of the Demon Dragon Antarea.
'As expected, if you're a necromancer, you should do at least this much.'
A bone dragon was truly a necromancer's romance.
Having reached the 29th floor, he had achieved one of his bucket list items.
This was possible because Seo-jin's [Summon Dead] level had increased.
[Summon Dead LV.7]
[Currently Registered Familiars]
Baduki (S) LV: 250
Lich King (S-) LV: 243
Glize (A+) LV: 197
Lord's Heart (EX) LV: ?
Tam (A-) LV: 186
Catfish (S+) LV: 1
Antarea (S) LV: 145
[Antarea]
Grade: S
LV: 145
Race: Bone Dragon
Owner: Lee Seo-jin
The Black Dragon Antarea that once ruled a world. Awakened again by an excellent black mage to become a familiar.
Unique Skills
[Dragon Fear]
Upon summoning, reduces the rank of surrounding enemies by one level.
[Magical Creature]
All magical aptitudes and resistances increase.
[Dragon Heart]
Mana consumption and casting delay for magic use are reduced by 50 percent.
[Dragon Lair]
Dominates the surrounding area, allowing monsters of A-grade and below to be used as familiars.
[Essence of Deadly Poison]
Has immunity to all poisons. Can use poisonous breath.
[Demonic Nature]
Magical aptitude increases. 30 percent damage reduction effect is applied. Takes 200 percent additional damage from divine magic.
Antarea had tremendous unique skills befitting a dragon. It took almost a week just to create, but it was a satisfying result.
In addition, he had added another summon, a summon named [Catfish], an underwater summon made using Leviathan's Fang.
However, perhaps resembling someone, it completely ignored Seo-jin's words, so he still couldn't use it properly.
It wasn't just the Summon Dead skill level that had increased.
Seo-jin opened his status window to check his level.
Ting-.
[Lee Seo-jin]
[LV.257] [Nova]
Health: 132 (+25)
Strength: 114 (+15)
Mana: 302 (+35)
Agility: 157 (+20)
Luck: 100 (+10)
His current level was 257.
It didn't reach the average level of 290 for 29th floor climbers, but he had greatly narrowed the gap.
However, his stats were much higher than others.
Basic climber stats were 10 points each.
Basic stats gained from leveling, +2 per level, totaled 512.
And additional stats gained from various first achievement completions and quest clears were 243 points.
Even compared to Nam-gung Cheon, who had currently surpassed level 300, it was a significantly higher figure.
This meant that the amount of additional stats gained from achievement completions and quest clears was tremendous.
Anyway, this rapid leveling was the result of Seo-jin settling down on the 29th floor for a couple of months and focusing on leisurely raising his level.
'The 29th floor has a worldview most similar to a typical fantasy setting.'
As such, it could be called a hunting treasury full of various monsters.
Not only typical monsters like orcs and trolls, but high-grade prey like drakes were abundant everywhere.
It was a place where basic but essential materials were standard, and all kinds of rare materials could be obtained without difficulty.
While settled here, he had raised his level considerably and caught Antarea to repay the debt of dragon scales he had owed to So-yul.
Not only that, but he had also gathered various top-grade materials and equipped himself with several supreme artifacts that wouldn't be inferior to any strategy team.
The decisive reason he could stay on the 29th floor for such a long time was.
"Ugh, you're making those damn undead again! It smells, so do it somewhere else!"
Because Master Circe's residence also existed on this 29th floor.
"Why are you coming out again? Rest inside."
"The stench is reverberating, reverberating! Clean it up!"
"Ah, yes."
Seo-jin canceled the summoning magic circle and put away the bone dragon.
"And your companions have arrived, so go meet them!"
Seo-jin nodded and headed to the meeting place.
Originally, Seo-jin had never stayed on one floor for such a long time, but this time he had taken his time and settled down to handle various matters.
Also, the reason he had settled down here for so long wasn't just for leveling and artifact crafting.
The reason was precisely.
'To match the climbing speed with my teammates.'
Nam-gung Cheon and Francesca, who had already climbed to the 29th floor, were no problem.
However, there was quite a difference with the other team members.
Nam-gung Rin, who had stopped climbing for a long time on the 20th floor, Han So-yul, who had stopped climbing on the 25th floor, and Kim Se-yeon, who had acted separately from the 12th floor.
And time was needed to nurture Zieg and Austin, who had formed connections on the 12th floor.
However, since they all had outstanding talent, it didn't take too long to climb.
Breaking through new floors was difficult, but climbing already opened floors wasn't that hard.
Unless you were going around conquering unsolved challenges or hidden bosses like Seo-jin.
As a result of prioritizing rapid climbing over level or skill proficiency to match the teammates' climbing progress.
"You're the last one."
"Y-yes."
Nam-gung Rin, breathing heavily with a tired expression.
With Nam-gung Rin as the last, everyone had arrived on the 29th floor.
She was busy managing the Thief Guild, and the talent she possessed was also the most difficult to develop among the spell arts, so it was natural that it took more time than others.
"Everyone's gathered."
Starting with team leader Seo-jin, Han So-yul, Nam-gung Cheon, Kim Se-yeon, Nam-gung Rin, Zieg, Francesca, and Austin.
A total of eight people.
It was rare for the Reverse Heaven Society team members to gather in one place.
It had taken a full six months for everyone to gather together up to the 29th floor.
Seo-jin looked around at the assembled team members and smiled.
"You've all worked hard to come this far. The reason I've gathered you all here is because I'm thinking of holding a training camp from now on."